Forensic expert deposes in Sheena Bora murder case

A forensic expert, who had analysed the skeletal remains purportedly of murder victim Sheena Bora, deposed before a special court here on Tuesday, an official said.

Sheena was killed allegedly by her mother Indrani Mukerjea, a former media executive, with the help of two other accused in April 2012.

According to the police, the 24-year-old's body was burnt in a jungle in the neighbouring Raigad district, and was exhumed in 2015 after the murder came to light.

An analysis of Indrani Mukerjea's blood sample and the left femur bone from the remains revealed that she was the victim's biological mother, assistant director of Regional Forensic Science Laboratory Shrikant Lade told the court.

The DNA profile obtained from the lower cervical vertebrae of the remains also matched with Indrani Mukerjea's blood sample, he added.

Indrani Mukerjea (47), her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyamvar Rai were arrested in 2015 for allegedly murdering Sheena.

Former media baron Peter Mukerjea, Indrani Mukerjea's husband at the time, was arrested later for allegedly being part of the murder conspiracy.

Early last month, the family court in suburban Bandra had granted a divorce by mutual consent to Peter Mukerjea and Indrani Mukerjea.

All accused are currently in jail, while Rai has turned approver in the case.

According to investigators, Indrani Mukerjea's opposition to Sheena's relationship with Rahul, Peter Mukerjea's son from his first wife, and financial disputes were possible motives for the murder.

Sheena was Indrani Mukerjea's daughter from an earlier relationship.

The high-profile case was first handled by the Mumbai Police and later by the CBI.